The admission and selection process for transfers to UC Santa Cruz reflects the academic rigor and preparation needed for admission to a major research institution.

Transfer applicants are thoroughly reviewed to determine their full spectrum of academic and personal achievements, including transfer coursework completed for their major. UC Santa Cruz uses faculty-approved criteria to determine which transfer students will be selected for admission. UC Santa Cruz only considers transfer students at the junior level and gives the highest priority to junior level transfer students coming from California community colleges.

Selection Criteria

To be considered for admission by UC Santa Cruz, junior-level transfer students must have completed the following no later than the end of the spring 2015 term:

Non-residents of California

The selection criteria are the same as for California residents, except that you must have a minimum GPA of 2.80 in all UC-transferable college coursework, although higher GPAs are more competitive.

Applicants with international academic records

UC Santa Cruz welcomes transfer students who have completed coursework outside the United States. A record of coursework from collegiate institutions and universities outside of the U.S. must be submitted for evaluation. We require all applicants whose first language is not English to adequately demonstrate English competency as a part of the application process. Students may demonstrate competency by completing one of the following:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 550 on the paper-based or 80 on the Internet-based test

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 7 or higher

Completion of two UC-transferable English composition courses (not ESL) in the U.S. with grades of B (3.00) or better

For IELTS, UC Santa Cruz only accepts scores submitted electronically by the IELTS test center. No paper Test Report Forms will be accepted. An institutional code is NOT required. Please contact the test center where you took the test directly and request that your test scores be sent electronically using the IELTS system. All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution.

Admission by Exception

Admission by Exception is granted to a very small percentage of applicants who do not meet the UC transfer requirements. Such factors as academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and/or special circumstances, socioeconomic background, special talents and/or achievements, contributions to the community, and the quality of your personal statement are taken into consideration. UC Santa Cruz does not grant exceptions for the required courses in English composition or mathematics.

Please note:

Lower-division transfer students (sophomores) are not considered for admission to UC Santa Cruz.

Students who have completed 90 UC-transferable semester units (135 quarter units) or more are not considered for admission to UCSC, except in the following circumstances:

Students will be granted up to 70 semester/105 quarter units of credit for lower-division coursework completed at any institution or any combination of institutions. For units beyond the maximum, subject credit for appropriate coursework taken in excess of this unit limitation will be granted and may be used to satisfy requirements.

Units earned through AP, IB, and/or A-Level examinations are not included in the limitation and do not put applicants at risk of being denied admission.

Units earned at any UC campus (Extension, summer, cross/concurrent and regular academic year enrollment) are not included in the limitation but are added to the maximum transfer credit allowed and may put applicants at risk of being denied admission due to excessive units.

Second baccalaureate candidates are evaluated on a case-by-case basis when enrollment allows. Check this web site for more information in the fall before applying.

Related Information

Housing

Two years of university housing are guaranteed for new transfer students entering single-student housing, as long as all deadlines are met. New transfer students requesting university housing are housed in the Transfer Community at Porter College.